Looking for the 99-cent Shish kabob

At Sagmani's in El Cajon, Kabob prices start waay low

"Eat onion in the morning. Give it to friends at noon. Give it to your enemies at night."

That's the ancient wisdom on the power of onions from my friend Mr. Sagmani. He's Chaldean, a Christian from Baghdad. Has his kabob place in El Cajon. He reminds me of it as I chomp into his kabob plate here by the tire shop just off West Main. I kinda ran in here from the rain.

Mr. Sagmani's is right by the tire shop near where the 815 bus stops. I have loved his place ever since I discovered he sold shish kabobs for 99 cents.

True! Such a deal, and gut-fillers when you most need them, like to get the energy to hoof it to the trolley, a mile up West Main.

So I start off ordering two 99-cent kabobs. Then I remember that deal is only for to-go orders. And right now i see the rain really start to come down outside. So what da heck. Miss a trolley. Catch a lunch.

Sagmani's kabob plate

Of course now I'm paying $7, not $2. But I'm also getting a pile of rice, salad, pickled cabbage, the two large kabobs, and a fresh-baked disk of pita bread. How fresh? Mr. Sagmani slapped it in his tandoor oven a minute ago. Bingo! World's freshest bread. Also most ancient.

Actually it's the freshness of everything that hits you. Even the walls, all fresh-painted in three shades of blue.

As you're supposed to, I start off with those paprika-dusted onions. Red. Sliced. Raw. And I swear, they freshen up your system and tweak your appetite like nothing else.